Well, I got my iPhone 4 swapped for one where the camera does actually focus – see my post below and I’m pleased with how that works now. However, I am having trouble with the infamous reception issue where Apple’s response is to ‘hold the phone differently’ – well, their slogan of course was ‘Think Different’. Or use a case.
So I set about doing research to find a case that would solve the antenna bridging problem, look good and not get stuck in my pocket when the phone was ringing.
I came across a company called Ultra Case and they do a great selection, including one which whilst it’s for the iPhone 3G has to be the most gaudy, OTT, blinging, show-off in your face case – EVER. See this vid:
I waited a while before getting my iPhone 4, I’ve had all of them since the original on the day of release. Yeah, I know, I’m an Apple fanboy – like a magpie, I love their shiny stuff. They just do it better than other makers of tech kit – when they work as intended…
This time I wanted Apple to sort out the ‘Version One’ teething troubles first. Plus I wanted to ask a few real life users about the reception problems due to the aerial around the body. Although right handed, I use my phone in my left (so I can write,etc) and this apparantly makes the issue more noticable. Friends said they were having no problems, although I did not they were all using a case, so better get one from Apple whilst they are still giving them out free.
So, I took the plunge and went with one from the 3 shop. Having just unboxed it, charged overnight and synced it, imagine my frustration to discover the autofocus on the front camera doesn’t work. The camera pointing to me does, however. The problem is there for both stills and video. Not very good for a photographer like me!
So, back to the shop for an exchange. I wouldn’t mind so much but it took that long to do all the blooming paperwork when I bought it, I got a parking ticket
UPDATE: After an hour out of my life including travelling time, the shop exchanged my phone for a new one. He’d not seen that problem before, although had one where the screen was totally black. My number ported just before I took it in to the shop, leaving my old iPhone 3 on O2 useless, and my replacement iPhone 4 useless, as even witht the sim in, it has to be synced with iTunes. . .
. . .Back home now, attempting to restore from the iTunes back-up. Frustratingly, the error message says:
“The software on the iPhone is too old to restore from the backup. Set up as a new iPhone and update the software before you can restore” Grrrr.
Your Gold Plate Mate as I’ve christened him, Riki Capone made his mark in Nottingham’s Post newspaper (mental note, must stop calling it the Evening Post, as all locals know it) when they ran my photograph of him presenting a microphone to comic Gina Yashere.
Riki’s business plates all kinds of unusual items with precious metals, and for the occasion he coated the mic in gold, which went down well with Gina at Nottingham’s new comedy venue, the Glee Club.
If you look carefully, you can see the rib he was munching, but refused to put down when I went backstage to take the photos!
Gold Plater Riki Capone, of Goldie Horns, presents a gold plated microphone to comic Gina Yashere in Nottingham
Comedienne Gina Yashere is presented with a gold plated microphone by Riki Capone, who runs 'Goldie Horns' plating in Nottingham. The presentation took place during her set at the newly opened Glee Club, the former Jongleurs, in the city.
Had a really interesting photoshoot with the owner of Nottingham business Goldie Horns, who plate almost anything with precious metals, including gold, platinum, silver and chrome.
Riki Capone (yes, his real name) can take everyday objects such as an iPod or xBox and transform them into the ultimate bling thing that no self respecting gangsta rapper of celebrity could afford to be without.
His most unusual item for plating was a load of chicken wishbones, which are being transformed into a sculpture for the 2012 Olympics by a Nottingham artist.
Riki also popped up this weekend at Nottingham’s newest comedy venue, the Glee Club, where Gina Yashere was performing, to present her with a gold plated microphone.
As you can see, she was delighted!
And before you ask, no he didn’t do his own teeth – in Riki’s words, “they’re solid man”
There’s a photograph of Nottingham surgeon Damian Bragg (28) who drives a Porsche with a personalised plate SU56EON (space missing) in tonight’s Nottingham Evening Post.
Having had several parking tickets whilst on photography assignments in Nottingham city since the wardens arrived, I have empathy with how Damien Bragg is feeling.
He was on duty during the night and ‘forgot to display’ his permit for which he pays just over £18 a month so was clamped.
It’s not an excuse that his registration looks like ‘surgeon’. He needs to put a space between SU56 and EON to be legal, he has ‘Vanity Plates’ fitted there, they are not road legal. He says: “My car is easily recognisable and I frequently park in this car park”
He said that “lives could have been put at risk” by the clamper’s actions.
Presumably it’s made clear that staff must display the permit like I have to display my parking ticket. One of my tickets was when my ticket had unbeknown to me, blown upside down as I closed the door!
He’s obviously doing well driving a Porsche at 28, so a £35 ‘reminder’ to display his permit in future won’t be too much hardship in my opinion.
Correctly clamped for forgetting permit or unfairly victimised. He’s a urologist. Were they taking the P? What do you think?
Talk about an on-the-spot news photographer See my post above – Hot News Photography in Calveron, Nottingham, tonight on the title bar. I was in the kitchen next door – you can see how close the flames got!
I was photographing next door during a fire at Calverton, Nottingham
Sometimes a photography brief from a client can be a little unusual or challenging…
Latest was one where the requirements were to photograph a dog at a vets ‘Looking up expectantly’ and ‘Looking at his doggy toy’ amongst other shots.
But unfortunately, the dog was blind.
He didn’t want to be apart from his owner, so to get shots of him on his own, I got him to cuddle and stroke the dog until he relaxed a bit (vets are stressful places y’know) and quickly move out of shot.
This worked fairly well, but the best shots I think were with him being fussed over. Here’s one of him looking doleful yet cute:
Thanks for stopping by. If you need a photographer in Nottingham, you need me.
“Fresh, creative ideas, transformed into eyecatching, pressworthy pictures, delivered on time, with friendly, helpful and reliable service and a no-quibble guarantee” – that is Spike Photography’s mission.
My company was established in 1991, but I have been earning a living as a photographer sonce 1983, both freelancing and as a staff photographer for the Nottingham Evening Post group. 27 year’s of experience mean I can give you the photos you need, and the pictures that editors love to use.
I have a lot of stories about sunjects that I intend to share on my blog – so please subscribe.
You can see some of my work that I have taken in Nottingham and the East Midlands (although I do occasionally get jobs in London) on my website – Nottingham Photographers – Spike Photography
I'm a Nottingham, East Midlands UK-based commercial and industrial photographer since 1983. Please comment on any post that interests you. Be cool, be happy, keep smiling!
